Towel Device for Spin Biking

ABSTRACT

A towel device for spin biking made from towel material that is sewed with two tunnel-like regions that slip over the bike&#39;s handle bars. The left and right sides of the device descend downward from the left and right handle bars and include pockets for cellphones, ID cards and the like. The device is easily manufactured, easily put on the bike and removed, and totally washable just as a towel. Because it is typically towel material, it can also be used directly as a towel for wiping face and body.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to spin biking (or other biking)accessories and more particularly to a towel device for spin biking thatcan hold cell phones, ID cards and the like while spin biking.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Spin biking is a fitness sport typically performed in a fitness studioor class where the participant exercises on a fixed bicycle that usuallyhas a heavy, weighted flywheel that is mechanically linked to thepedals. The degree of wheel resistance is typically adjustable by theparticipant. Many such spin biking studios accompany the biking withlights and music to create an energized atmosphere. Spin biking isusually taught by a licensed instructor.

A spin bike is generally different from a real bicycle and is designedmuch more like a road bike. The handle bars usually point in a forwarddirection away from the rider.

A typical spin bike participant in an indoor class will typically bringa towel and drape it across the handle bars in front of them to holdobjects like cellphones, ID cards and the like. However, a standardtowel is prone to slipping off and allowing all of the objects to fallonto the floor.

It would be advantageous to have a towel device that could hold objectson the handle bars of a spin bike without slipping off and falling andthat could also be used as a real towel for wiping face and body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a towel device for spin biking (orother biking) that overcomes the problems of the prior art. The deviceis made from towel material that is sewed with two tunnel-like regionsthat slip over the bike's handle bars. The left and right sides of thedevice descend downward from the left and right handle bars and includepockets for cellphones, ID cards and the like. The device is easilymanufactured, easily put on the bike and removed, and totally washablejust as a towel. Because it is towel material, it can also be useddirectly as a towel for wiping face and body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now drawn to several drawings that illustrate features ofthe present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device attached to aspin bike.

FIG. 2 shows a front-on view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the handlebars.

Several drawings and illustrations have been provided to aid inunderstanding the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a towel device that is very useful forspin biking or regular biking. The device is typically made of towelmaterial and is sewed with two tube-like channels that are adapted to beslipped over the bike's handle bars. The outsides of the device drapedownward and contain pockets, usually on the outside, to holdcellphones, ID cards and other objects during biking. The device can beremoved from the handle bars and used directly as a towel at any time.Alternatively, a second towel (or other object) can be placed in a flatcenter region between the handlebars.

Turning to FIG. 1, a side view of an embodiment of the present invention3 can be seen slipped over the handle bars 2 of a spin bike 1. FIG. 2shows a front-on view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the handle bars 2.The device is characterized by having a sewed seam 6 on each side of acentral flat region 7. The seam 6 allows the material to form twotube-like regions or loops 8 that can slip on and off the handle bars 2.The region 9 outside the tubes 8 drapes down on each side of the handlebars 2. This region can have various pockets 4 sewed-on pockets that cancontain objects 5 like cellphones and the like.

The flat central region 7 of the device lies relatively level duringservice and can be used as a table to hold a wiping towel, readingmaterial or anything else that may need to be available during theexercise session.

The device 3 can be easily removed from the handle bars 2 and useddirectly as a towel. Alternatively, it can be folded for storage. Sincethe preferred material is towel material, the device can be easilywashed just as any towel would be. While towel material is the preferredmaterial, any flexible material may be used including other clothes andplastic materials.

FIG. 1 shows two pockets 4 on the side 9 of the descending material;however, any number of pockets or no pockets is also within the scope ofthe present invention. The pockets 4 may optionally have covers thatbutton, zipper or otherwise attach and close, and the pockets 4 may havemultiple compartments. Pockets can be any shape or size and can betailored to hold any virtually any item. In particular, a closed pocketcan hold a music device such as an iPod™ or other device, or acombination cell phone and music device. Ports can be sewed into thedevice for earphone wires, and special pockets can be provided to holdearphones.

While sewing tube-like structures on the device is the preferred way ofattaching it to the bike, any way of attaching can be used. Inparticular, one or more flaps with zippers, buttons or other fastenersmay be used, or the device can be tied onto the bike with strings suchas an apron.

The device can be easily manufactured from a towel or a towel fragmentusing a sewing machine and sewing techniques known in the art.Alternatively, it can be manufactured from stock lengths of material.Because of its simplicity and usefulness, the present invention is costeffective to manufacture and a useful accessory for spin biking. Whiletowel material is preferred, any material is within the scope of thepresent invention.

Also, the preferred embodiments of the invention are directed at spinbiking; however, other embodiments can be used with regular bicycles,especially bicycles used for exercise.

Accessories can include a cord to secure the device to the bike, extrapockets, pockets with zippers or other closing methods, various colorsand styles and other sewed or fabricated devices that can optionallyattach to the main body or sides of the invention.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been provided of the presentinvention. One with skill in the art will realize that numerous changesand variations are possible without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope ofthe present invention.

I claim:
 1. A spin bike accessory comprising: a generally rectangularcloth member sewed with a two lateral seams forming a pair oftunnel-like loops adapted to allow insertion of a spin bike's handlebars into the tunnel-like loops so that said member can hang on thehandlebars in a hanging configuration; wherein, in said hangingconfiguration, the member has a relatively flat central portion betweenthe handlebars and two outer descending portions outside of saidhandlebars, and wherein, said outer descending portions include one ormore sewed-on exterior pockets.
 2. The spin bike accessory of claim 1wherein said cloth member is towel material.
 3. The spin bike accessoryof claim 1 wherein said flat central portion and each of said descendingportions are approximately equal sized.
 4. The spin bike accessory ofclaim 1 wherein there are four sewed-on exterior pockets.
 5. The spinbike accessory of claim 1 wherein said cloth member has a widthapproximately equal to each handle bars' length.
 6. The spin bikeaccessory of claim 1 wherein the flat central portion has a lengthapproximately equal to said handle bars' separation.
 7. The spin bikeaccessory of claim 1 wherein said member has a folded configuration andcan be folded for storage.
 8. A method of creating a spin bike accessorycomprising: cutting an approximately rectangular piece of cloth; sewinga pair of tunnel-like loops into said piece using two lateral seams atapproximately ⅓ and ⅔ length forming a central section and two endsections; sewing a seam around said piece; sewing a plurality of pocketson at least one of said end sections.
 9. The method of claim 8 whereinsaid cloth is towel material.
 10. The method of claim 9 including sewingtwo pockets on each of said end sections.
 11. A spin bike accessorycomprising: a generally rectangular cloth member of towel material sewedwith a two lateral seams forming a pair of loops adapted to allowinsertion of a spin bike's handle bars into the loops so that saidmember can hang on the handlebars in a hanging configuration; wherein,in said hanging configuration, the member has a relatively flat centralportion between the handlebars and two outer descending portions outsideof said handlebars; wherein, said outer descending portions include aplurality of sewed-on exterior pockets; and, wherein said flat centralportion and each of said descending portions are approximately equalsized.
 12. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein said cloth memberhas a width approximately equal to each handle bars' length.
 13. Thespin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein the flat central portion has alength approximately equal to said handle bars' separation.
 14. The spinbike accessory of claim 11 wherein there are four sewed-on exteriorpockets.
 15. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein said member hasa folded configuration and can be folded for storage.